A New Year’s Message From Christopher

Can You See The Forest Through The Trees? Are You LIVING Your Purpose?

As 2009 closes, I find myself (like most people) reflecting on the past — the past year, the past decade . . . the course of my life so far.

It’s been an amazing journey, with this year being one of the best yet, filled with the laughter of my daughter and my newborn son, international travel, growing business, support from my wife, new relationships and incredible amounts of personal and professional growth.

And I just topped it all off as I was going through old personal files on my hard drive . . . and stumbled across the original copy of a letter I’d written to my family and friends as I was preparing to uproot my life by leaving the Twin Cities and moving to NYC:

. . . we’re on this planet to LIVE — to discover and to utilize to our fullest ability whatever gifts we’ve been given, so that we can live truly happy lives and contribute to the many lives we encounter. . .

I have been gifted opportunities to meet people and influence them through the world of personal training. This career forces me to be the best I can be while allowing me the privilege to motivate and to teach by sharing my education and example with others. My wish for you during this holiday season and for the rest of your life is as follows:

1. Discover your purpose in life (or continue to develop that purpose if you’ve already successfully found it).
2. Believe in that purpose.
3. Face all your fears, take risks and don’t quit when pushing onward is difficult.
4. Wake up every morning, thankful for another day, and LIVE each day so that you don’t wake up the next with regrets of not having accomplished what you desire.
5. Strive for and achieve success!! (on your spiritual terms)

What struck me about this letter? The message I delivered was a less refined, but very similar version of what I believe today. It probably shouldn’t be surprising at all. But when life is busy swirling around you, it’s easy to lose sight of your overall purpose and current place in life — akin to the phrase ‘you can’t see the forest through the trees.’

And it’s nice when we can be reminded of the path we’re on, and discover that we’ve managed to stay close to it, and cultivate it, for a prolonged period of time — especially when there’s growth and success attached to it!!

Have you taken the time to reflect on your purpose lately . . . or ever? What drives you? What do you want? What does your heart tell you?

Now is as good a time as any to reflect on it, isn’t it?

So, go do it . . . and then act! And may those actions bring you fulfillment in 2010 and beyond!!